The new soft sell. (Static).(Brief Article)

* The new soft sell: Back when big-league outfield walls were plain, commercial breaks were the only evidence of TV commerce. Today, revenue generators abound: ESPN's Capital One Bowl Week (an example of "umbrella sponsorship"); the SportsCenter Budweiser Hot Seat ("sponsored element within a program"); and Fox Sports Net's Best Damn Sports Show Period, embodying "product immersion."

Like E.T. eating Reese's Pieces or American Idol judges drinking Coke, BDSSPs cast enjoys Quizno's and Outback Bloomin' Onions at the Labatt/Rolling Rock/Dos Equis bar (and soon, the Home depot Deck)--while wearing Dockers Stain Defenders, ...